Method of heating with water



ug, 2, 1932. B F RANDEL 1,870,024

METHOD OF HEATING WITH WATER Filed Feb. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

.50 @mi Emfmz Aug 2, 1932 B. F. RANDEL 1,870,024

METHOD 0F HEATING WITH WTBR Filed Feb. 25 1929 '2 SileeS-Shcot 9 A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1932 BO FOLKE HANDEL, OIF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIAASSIGNOR T0 C.

A. DUNHAM COMPANY,

OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA METHOD 0F HEATING WITH WATER Application filed February 25, 1929. Serial No. 342,423.

My invention relates to the art of heating, and the principal object is to provide a novel method of heating with water, in which hot Water from a` boiler is delivered under pressure to radiators or a heating system, then is admitted through a novel dilierential pressure expansion valve to the radiators or the heating system, said radiators or heating system being at suiiiciently lower pressure than the hot water supply system to permit the heated water to expand into vapor form at this lower pressure, then condensing said vapor back to liquid form in the radiators or heating system, then passing the condensate through thermostatic traps to a vacuum pump and from the high pressure discharge oit said pump back to the boiler.

At the present state of developement in the art of heating with water, hot water at a temperature of approximately 180 F. is delivered to the radiators and is discharged at approximately 155 F. The heat transfer per pound of water in circulation is therefore approximately 25 B. t. u. To increase this heat transfer it would be necessary to increase the temperature ot1 the Water and this is done in so called closed systems, where the temperature is maintained at 25()O F. or over. While this arrangement from a heat transfer standpoint is an improvement, allowing as it does for smaller pipes and more economical installations, it is however objec-A tionable on account of the increase ot the sensible heat of the radiators. The so called hygienic temperature in a radiator is approximately 155 F. or less, and any increase of this temperature is objectionable.

In my system of heating, which is a combik nation of water, vapor and vacuum systems, I increase considerably the heat transfer over other water heating systems, and at the same time I retain the sensible temperature of the radiator within hygienic limits.

'Ihe method is based upon the fact that heated water under pressure will immediately tlash into steam when admitted into a space in which the pressure has been sufliciently reduced. Thus if water at a temperature of about 300 F. and under about 55 pounds pressure is admitted into a space where a pressure of l25 inches of vacuum is maintained, it will flash into steam at a temperature of about 126o F. Now, if the steam or vapor is recondensed in this space, by further cooling, to liquid form, the condensate leaving the space at the temperature of 126 F., the heat transfer would be 30() minus 126 or 174 B. t. u. per pound of water passing through. And while the temperature of the incoming water was 300o F., the sensible temperature in said space would be only about 126 F. The heat transfer would therefore be approximately seven times as much as in ordinary hot water heating systems. I of In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic elevational view of my heating system; Fig. 2 is one form of a differential pressure expansion valve used in my system; Figs. 3 and 4 are other forms of this valve, and Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on the line A-A and B-B of the valve as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Some of the devices used in my system are well known to the art of heating and will not be shown and described in detail, only such parts as are novel being so shown and described.

Referring to Fig. l, l is the boiler or heat generator, which furnishes hot water to the system through heating main 2, controlled by control valve 3. Radiators are shown at 4 and 4a and they are supplied with hotwater from main 2 through supply laterale 5 and 5a. Hot water is admitted to radiators 4 and 4a through diierential pressure expansion valves 6 and 6a, these valves being shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. In passing through ditferential pressure expansion valves 6 and 6a into the radiators, which are kept under a lower pressure, the hot water flashes into vapor in the radiator space. This vapor on meeting the colder surfaces of the radiator, condenses back to water, the condensate passing out through thermostatic return traps 7 and 7a, return laterals 8 and 8a, into the return main 9.

The thermostatic traps 7 and 7 a are of the conventional type, with thermostatic discs or bellows, lilled with a volatile liquid, said infr the ports by ter from the tank 10b at high velocity through lOf permittinor the condensate to return tol ejector 10c, with the suction chamber of which return pipe 9 commumcates, producing a vacuum in the ipe 9 and a pressure in pipes 10d and 11. T e tank 10b 1s vented at 10a, allowing uncondensable gases to be discharged from the system. When the Water level 10g in the tank 10b rises, float 10e will open valve the boiler under pressure through pipe 11.

Before entering the boiler, this condensate is passed through an ejector 12, the action of this ejector 12 being to cause positive circulation through pipe 2 from the boiler outlet to the return inlet, thus keeping the water in suppl main 2 at the high temperature maintaine by boiler l.

It is seen that this system of heating with water will require a novel inlet valve at the radiators 4 and 4a, which will retain a certain pressure drop through the valve, permitting the liquid to expand and evaporate, and which will automatically open or close when this differential pressure increases or decreases. i

Such a novel differential pressure expansion valve is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the general principle of operation being similar in the three illustrations, certain details being varied.

In this valve, 13 is the differential pressure element, shown in disc form in Fig. 2, and in the bellows form in Figs. 3 and 4. This element 13 is enclosed in a valve body 15, and the inside of said element connects through tube 14 with the outlet or low pressure end.

of the valve, the high pressure inlet of the valve being at 16.

In Fig. 2, the valve 17 is shown in cone form, in Fig. 3 in disc form and in Fig. 4 in sleeve form. The sleeve has ports 17a (see Fig. 5) which are opened or closed by the movement of the sleeve.

The differential element being totally enclosed in the valve body and being surrounded by the fiuid under high pressure, with the tube 14 connecting the inside of this element with the low pressure outlet, it is seen that variations of pressure difference will affeet this element, contracting or expanding v the same with the increasing or decreasing of this pressure differential, thus openin or closing valve. It will also be seen, that y moving the entire differential mechanism, with the differential element, tube 14 and valve disc or sleeve, any predetermined pressure differential may be established. The valve may thus be set for any desired drop of pressure from inlet to outlet, and this drop will then be permanent under any conditions of pressure on the high or low pressure sides. Thus, if set at a 20 pound drop, the high pressure may be 30 (pounds with the low pressure 10 pounds, an if high pressure should increase to 40 pounds, the low pressure will increase to 20 ounds, maintaining the drop of 20 pounds.

n my system of heating, I may therefore maintain any definite pressure in the radiator, and any increase of such pressure will close ,the inlet valve by expanding the differential pressure element, thus maintaining a definite pressure drop.

In Fig. 2, I have arranged for hand operation of this valve by means of a hand wheel 18, by which I may vary the position of the differential element to provide varied differential pressure. In Fig. 3, I accomplish such variation b a screw 19, which will allow me to set the di erential as desired. In Fig. 4, I allow a thermostatically operated bel-lows 22, filled with a volatile fluid, to adjust this pressure differential, so that when a desired room temperature has been reached the eX- pansion of fluid in this bellows will close the valve. In this case I also show a so called packless construction of valve by means of the bellows 23. Thermostatic-element 22 is enclosed in the open chamber 20 and may be adjusted by the screw 21.

While I have invented the above described pressure differential expansion valve primarily as a necessary part of my system of heating, the same valve may be used in any system utilizing fluids in motion, when a definitepressure differential is desired between inlet and outlet, and I do not limit the use of same to my system of heating but include its use in any and all systems utilizing fluids in motion, where a certain predetermined pressure difference is desired, independent of high or low pressure or load on the system. It may thus be used in any vapor or water heating systems either at radiators, or in main supply or return lines; in refrigerating installations, direct expansion or brine circulating systems; or in any system where a certain definite drop of pressure is desired.

The detail construction of my differential pressure expansion valve may vary, and I may adopt any of the present conventional forms of valve seats, balanced or unbalanced, cone shape, flat disc shape, sleeve or piston type. The differential element may also be of any conventional form, disc style, single or multiple, bellows; piston; etc., and I do not desire to limit myself to any definite form of valve except as to the main form, which is a movable differential element enclosed in the valve body, surrounded by the fluid under high pressure, the inside of said element being in communication with the low pressure discharge of said valve.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, `what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A method of heating, which consists in introducing heated water from a common supply duct into a plurality of expansion and heat emitting spaces having a common discharge duct, partially evacuating said expansion spaces, expanding part of said heated water into vapor form in said plurality of expansion spaces, condensing said vapor in said plurality of expansion spaces, and withdrawing non-condensable gases and condensate as formed from said plurality of spaces, and collecting same in the common discharge duct.

2. A method of heating, which consists in circulating heated Water under pressure from a heating unit and back to the said heating unit, withdrawing heated water at different locations from said circulating system and introducing this water into partially evacuated spaces, expanding part of said heated water in said evacuated spaces into vapor form, condensing said vapor in said spaces into liquid form, removing the condensate and hot Water from said spaces, collecting said condensate and hot Water into a common return duct, and discharging said condensate and hot water back into said circulating heated water with which it is returned to the heating unit.

3. The method of heating consisting in supplying heated water under pressure to an expansion and condensing space, and partially evacuating said space and restricting the iiow of heated water into the space so as to maintain the pressure in said space lower by a substantially constant difference than the pressure of the water prior to its introduction into said space, whereby a portion of the heated water will be expanded into steam while in said space.

4f. The method of heating consisting in supplying heated water under pressure to an expansion and condensing space, partially evacuating said space and restricting the ow ot heated water into the space so as to maintain the pressure in said space lower by a substantially constant difference than the pressure of the water prior to its introduction into said space, whereby a portion of the heated water will be expanded into steam while in said space, and withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensable gases from the space while preventing the escape of steam therefrom.

5. The method of heating consisting in continuously circulating heated water under pressure in a closed circuit from and back to a means in which the water is heated, withdrawing a portion of the heated water from thecircuit and introducing it into an expansion and'condensing space, partially evacuating said space and restricting the flow of water into the space so as to maintain the pressure in said space lower by a substantially constant diii'erence than the pressure of the heated Water in said circuit so that a vportion of the water will be expanded into steam while in the space, and returning the condensate and unvaporized water to the circuit.

6. The method of heating consisting in continuously circulating heated water under pressure in a closed circuit from and back to a means in which the water is heated, withdrawing a portion of the heated water from the circuit and introducing it into an expansion and condensing space, maintaining the pressure in said space suiiiciently lower than the pressure of the heated water in said circuit so that a portion of the water will be eX- panded into steam while in the space, returning the condensate and unvaporized water to the circuit and utilizing the returned water to promote the circulation of the heated water in the circuit.

7. The method of heating consisting in continuously circulating heated water under pressure in a closed circuit from and back to a means in which the water is heated, separately withdrawing portions of the circulating water and introducing these portions into separate expansion and condensing spaces, partially evacuating these spaces and separately restricting the iow of water into each space so as to maintain the pressure in these spaces suiiiciently lower than the. pressure of the heated water in the circuit so that a portion of the water in each space will be expanded into steam while in the space, and returning the condensate and unvaporized water from the several spaces to the circuit.

8. The method of heating consisting in continuously circulating heated water under pressure in a closed circuit from -and back to a means in which the water is heated, separately withdrawing portions of the circulating water and introducing these portions into separate expansion and condensing spaces, partially evacuating these spaces and separately restricting the iow of water into each space so as to maintain the pressure in these spaces lower by a substantially constant difference than the pressure of the heated water in the circuit so that a portion of the water in each space will be expanded into steam while in the space, and returning the condensate and unvaporized water from the several spaces to the circuit.

.9. The method of heating" consisting', in continuously circulating heated water under pressure in a closed circuit from and back to a means in which the water is heated, sepa rately withdrawing Aportions of the circulating water and introducing these portions into separate expansion and condensing spaces, maintainin the pressure in these spaces lower than t e pressure of the heated water in the circuit so that a portion of the water in each' space will be expanded into steam while in the space, returning the condensate and. unvaporized water from the several spaces to the circuit and utilizing the returned water to promote the circulation of the heated water in the circuit.

10. The method of heating consisting'in continuously circulating heated water under pressure in a closed circuit from and back to a means in which the water is heated, withdrawing a portion of the heated water from the circuit and introducing it into an expansion and condensing space, maintaining the pressure in said space suliciently lower than the pressure of the heated water in said circuit so that a portion of the water will he expanded into steam while in the space, withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensable gases Jfrom the space while preventing the escape of steam therefrom, venting the gases, and returning the water to the circuit.

11. The method of heating consisting in continuously circulating heated water under pressure in a closed circuit from and back to a means in which the water is heated, withdrawing a portion of the heated water from the circuit and introducing it into an expansion and condensing space, maintaining the pressure in said space sufficiently lower than the pressure of the heated water in said circuit ,so that a portion of the water will be expanded into steam while in the space, withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensahle gases from the space while preventing the escape of steam therefrom, venting the gases, returning the water to the circuit, and utilizing the returned water to promote the circulation of the heated water in the circuit.

l2. The method of heating consisting in continuously circulating heated water under pressure in a closed circuit from and back to a means in which the water is heated, separvately withdrawing portions oii the circulating water and introducing these portions into separate expansion and condensing spaces,

maintaining the pressure in these spaces suiciently lower than the vpressure of the heated water in the circuit so that a portion of the water in each space will he expanded into steam, withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and noncondensable gases from the several spaces while preventing the escape of steam therefrom, venting the gases, and returning the water to the circuit.

13. The method of heating consisting in continuously circulating heated water under pressure vin a closed circuit from and back to a means in 'which the water is heated, separately withdrawing portions of the circulating water and introducing these portions into separate expansion and condensing spaces, maintaining the pressure in these spaces lower by a substantially constant difference than the pressure of the heated water in the circuit so that a portion of the water in each space will be expanded into steam, withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensable gases from the several spaces while preventing the escape of steam therefrom, venting the gases, and returning the water to the circuit.

14. The method of heating consisting in continuously circulating heated water under pressure in a closed circuit from and back to a means in which the water is heated, separately withdrawing portions of the circulating water and introducing these portions into separate expansion and condensing spaces, separately and selectively cutting off the flow of kwater to each expansion space when the desired heat output therefrom has been attained, maintaining the pressure in these spaces sufiiciently lower than the pressure of the heated water in the circuit so that a portion of the water in each space will be expanded into steam, withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensahle gases from the several spaces while preventing the escape of steam therefrom, venting the gases, and returning the water to the circuit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California. this 18th day of February, 1929.

BO FOLKE RANDEL. 

